Cosplaying Ardelia from Arknights: Endfield live at the Hypergryph Carnival this time, a huge amount of effort was invested from the initial costume pattern-making to the actual wearing at the venue. The layering of this styling is extremely strong; the inner wear is a light purple sleeveless high-neck bodysuit, and for the material, I deliberately selected a matte fabric with slight elasticity to ensure comfort during long hours of wear, while a lot of thought went into the tailoring of the outer white long coat. For that circle of white pleated decorations on the coat cuffs, to ensure it could still maintain a three-dimensional fluffy arc under the strong Carnival lights, I added a layer of styling mesh inside the lining for support. The black horizontal leather strap and orange triangular logo on the chest, as well as those two huge square utility pockets on both sides of the waist, were all hand-sewn through multiple processes, striving to restore that functional style that is both tough and full of technological sense.
For the wig, the brown wavy-curled twin tails had orange-red highlights at the tips, which took a significant amount of time to style. That pair of white and pink horns on top of the head, along with the fluffy animal ear ornaments at the roots of the horns, were made using lightweight clay combined with plush fabric, which could guarantee visual bulkiness without placing too heavy a burden on the head. The blue-orange geometric hairpin clipped at the bangs is the finishing touch, adding a bit of cold-color contrast to the overall warm-pink toned scheme. In terms of makeup, pink-toned contact lenses were worn to match the character's feel, and the eye makeup was not overly heavy, instead focusing on depicting distinct eyelashes and a slight flushed feel under the eyes, while the base makeup was also chosen to be translucent and long-lasting; after all, the convention lighting and enthusiastic crowds severely test the durability of the makeup.
In terms of props, that pink plush toy in my arms is extremely eye-catching, with its face and limbs being black and its texture soft. Meanwhile, the huge dark-brown plush accessory hanging behind the waist received special treatment in its pattern to control the weight of the internal filling, preventing an unstable center of gravity. That pair of white platform high-top shoes on the feet is an important part of this outfit, featuring bowknot decorations on the upper, and eye-catching red mechanical structures, orange straps, and black gear-like soles on the heel and sides. Because the heels are high, to stand stably on the booth and maintain good posture, I pasted forefoot pads inside the shoes in advance. Although walking around in them was very physically demanding, the overall elongated proportions and styling feel were totally worth it. The dark gray-brown Stockings paired on the legs feature delicate textures, forming a steady visual transition with the overall costume color scheme.
The booth scene arrangement of this Hypergryph Carnival also pleasantly surprised me; the white tower-like structure behind me, the bright yellow display boards, and the gray-and-yellow stepped booth by my feet printed with the words RECYCLABLE MATERIAL all created a strong modern industrial and sci-fi atmosphere. While interacting with players on-site, I tried hard to maintain Ardelia's calm yet vibrant temperament. Wearing and carrying the entire costume was indeed a bit exhausting, but being able to communicate with everyone on-site and fully present Ardelia made the whole process feel extremely fulfilling.